Game apparatus.



PATENTED JUNE 23, 1903.

A. STRAHLE. GAME APPARATUS. urmcmmn FILED nov. 24, 1902.

0 IODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented June 23, 1903.

PATENT O FICE.

GAME APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 731,968, dated June 23,1903. Application filed November 24. 1902. Serial No. 132,650. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT STRAHLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which thefollowingis a specification.

My invention relates to game apparatus, and has for its object toprovide a toy bowling apparatus, which is a material simplification ofthose extant and yet is adapted to be accurately operated.

The invention will be fully understood from the following descriptionand claims when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved apparatus; Fig. 2, alongitudinal vertical section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1, and Fig.3 a rear end elevation of the apparatus.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of theviews of the drawings, referring to which- A is the body of my improvedapparatus, which is preferably of wood; B B, a plurality of pins, and C0 balls. The body A is in the form of an oblong tray and is preferablyprovided with a run a and ways Z) at opposite sides of said run. It isalso provided on the inner side of its front end Wall with a cushion c,of rubber or other suitable material, Figs. 1 and 2, and in its rear endwall with a horizontal slot (1, Figs. 2 and 3.

D is a ball-return way or gutter disposed at one side of and suitablyconnected to the body A.

E is a transverse rod, preferably of metal, extending between and fixedto the sidewalls of the body A at about the proportional distanceillustrated from the rear end thereof; F, a tube loosely mounted on therod E and movable transversely of the body A; G, a plunger disposed inthe slot (1 and below the rod E and having a handle 6 at its rear endand also by preference a washer f, of rubber or other suitable material,arranged in front of the handle and designed when the handle is forciblymoved forward to bring up against the end of the body and prevent noise;H, a bifurcated head connected to the forward end of the plunger andhaving a flat bottom g, which rests on the run a of the body and isdesigned to support balls placed in the bifurcation of the head, and I atension-spring surrounding the plunger G and connected at one end to thetransversely-movable tube F and 'at its opposite end to the plunger at apoint in rear of the tube F.

In addition to the features before mentioned the body A is preferablyprovided with a board h, which is connected to its side walls and rearend wall and rests over the rod E, tube F, and spring I, as shown, so asto hide said elements from view and prevent interference therewith.

In using my improved apparatus the operator places the pins B on theforward portion of the run a, Fig. 1, and also places a ball 0 in thebifurcation of the head H and 011 the bottom 9 thereof, after which hepositions and draws the plunger G rearwardly against the action ofspring I and releases said plunger. WVhen the plunger is released asstated, the spring I will impel it forwardly, when the ball will leavethe head II and forcibly roll against and knock over the pins.

In virtue of the plunger G being arranged in the slot (1 of the bodywith its head 11 on the run a of the body and connected by the spring Iwith the tube F, movable on rod E, it will be observed that the plungermay be nicely positioned by simply grasping its handle and moving itlaterally; also, that when the plunger is impelled forwardly thearrangement of the plunger in slot (Z and the bearing of the head 11 onrun a will cause the plunger to move horizontally. It will further beobserved that in virtue of the spring. I being the sole connectionbetween the plunger G and tube F the plunger may be swung in eitherdirection after it is moved laterally, as before described, so as toenable the player to propel the ball againstthe pins to the bestadvantage.

The'bifurcation and the flat bottom of the head H assure the ballremaining in the head until the plunger reaches the end of its forwardmovement, which is advantageous, since it enables a player to accuratelypropel the ball against the pins.

The body A is preferably of such size as to permit of it beingconveniently placed on a table or similar support.

Having described my invention, what I ICO claim, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, 1s

1. In the game apparatus described, the combination of a body havingside and end walls, and also having a horizontal slot in one end wall, atransverse rod arranged between and fixed to the side walls of the bodyadj acent to the slotted end wall thereof, a tube loosely mountedandmovable on the transverse rod, a plunger resting in the slot in theend wall of the body, and below the transverse rod, and having ahandleat its re ar end, and a head at its forward end, provided with abifurcation, and a flat bottom resting on the bottom of the body, and acoiled spring surrounding the plunger, and connected at one end to thetube and at its opposite end to the plunger at a point in rear of thetube and transverse rod.

2. In the game apparatus described, the combination of a body havingside and end walls, a cushion on the inner side of the front end wall, ahorizontal slot in the rear end wall, and a board arranged on the rearend wall and the rear portions of the side wall, a transverse rodarranged between and fixed to the side walls of the body adjacent to theslotted end wall thereof, a tube loosely mounted and movable on thetransverse rod, a plunger resting in the slot in the end wall of thebody, and below the transverse rod, and having a handle at its rear end,and a head at its forward end, provided with abifurcation, and a fiatbottom resting on the bottom of thebody, and a coiled spring surroundingthe plunger, and connected at one end to the tube and at its oppositeend to the plunger at a point in rear of the tube and transverse rod.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses. Y

, ALBERT STRAIILE. lVitnesses:

FRANK BROWN, HENRY A. HOLTERMANN.

